etymological

comparative more etymological · superlative most etymological

1. not comparableOf or relating to etymology.

   But it goes without saying that this etymological argument in and of itself has no significance, since a word taken from a dead language may resultantly assume a meaning independent of its etymology.

   1877, Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov, translated by Valerie Z. Nollan, The Philosophical Principles of Integral Knowledge, Eerdmans, published 2008, →ISBN, page 58

2. comparableConsistent with its etymological characteristics (in historical usage or the source language).

   1 more example

   “Connexion” is the etymological (ie, “correct”) spelling. That is to say, our word is derived from an actual Latin noun, cf. deflexion, inflexion, and reflexion. […] And it might make life easier to abolish the letter “x”. But why should we cut off the fascinating roots of our words? I should carry on preferring “connexion”.

   2005 April 11, Philip Howard, “Modern Manners”, in The Times, London: News UK, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 Apr 2026